Reuters: Energy Secretary Steven Chu on Wednesday gave limited support to a Republican senator for introducing an alternative climate bill that would limit emissions by less than President Barack Obama wants to, but would also take steps to reduce U.S. dependence on oil. “In particular, I appreciate your ideas for reducing America’s oil dependence — which has taken on greater urgency as a result of the BP oil spill,” Chu wrote in a letter to Senator Richard Lugar, who introduced the bill on …